Rachel McAdams Recalls Buttons 'Popping Off' Her Blue Dress from “The Notebook” After Gaining Weight for the Role

In Vogue's new ‘Look the Part’ video series, the actress looked back at the iconic costume from the beloved film, which turns 20 this year

Rachel McAdams has vivid memories of fitting in to her iconic blue dress from The Notebook.

In the debut episode of Vogue’s new “Look the Part” series, the actress (who played Allie Hamilton in the beloved 2004 film) looked back at the iconic costume. McAdams, 45, revealed that the costume team had to go through “a lot” of options before landing on the dress, which “fit like a glove” (fortunately, because McAdams said it was one of the first costumes she wore on camera).

Later during filming, McAdams said director Nick Cassavetes asked her to gain weight over a holiday break so she could look "full figured” to portray Allie in her younger years. But when they had to reshoot scenes in the button-up design later on, McAdams admitted that “trying to squeeze into that blue dress was not easy."

“I remember the buttons kept popping off when I would sit down," she added.

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So what happened to the costume, which remains one of the most iconic in movie history, after production wrapped? It found its way into the hands of one grateful fan: Vanessa Bryant.

During her late husband Kobe Bryant’s memorial service on Feb. 24, 2020, Bryant revealed in her eulogy that the athlete (who died in a helicopter crash on Jan 26. 2020 with their daughter Gianna) had bought her the famous piece, as well as the shoes.

“When I asked him why he chose the blue dress [from the movie], he said it was because it’s the scene when Allie comes back to Noah,” Bryant shared. “We had hoped to grow old together like [in] the movie. We really had an amazing love story.” At the time Kobe bought the sentimental gift, the pair had reconciled after calling off their plans to divorce in 2013.

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Related: 'Notebook' Costume Designer on How Kobe Bryant Found Dress for Vanessa: 'He Was That Determined'

In a 2020 Access Hollywood interview, McAdams said she was “blown away” and touched by his generous action, which she found out about when she met the NBA star at the Sherlock Holmes premiere.

Karyn Wagner, The Notebook costume designer, had also reacted to Bryant’s speech while chatting with The Hollywood Reporter. “I started bawling. I’m still drying the tears off my face. What a beautiful eulogy. I’m so honored that I was able to contribute in some small way to the history of this amazing man.”

She’s said in multiple interviews that she didn’t know what happened to the dress after it was put in storage. But Kobe tracking it down spoke volumes. “He has to have spent a lot of time and a lot of effort. He was that good and he was that determined to show his wife how much he loved her,” said Wagner.

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